Ok,Saturday, I went out shed hunting up behind my house. I was looking for a set of sheds from a good buck that was seen the last week of rifle season this past year. I was working my way up this steep hillside when I stopped to catch my breath. I turned around to see a black bear about 75 yards behind me watching me. I though, Sh*t, where did you come from?!! I watched him, then turned and began walking up a deer trail to the top. I got to the top and turned and he was still behind me. I yelled at him a couple of times, and he just stood there watching me. I walked a logging road back to my truck backwards facing him and he followed me the whole way back. He stopped about 100 yards from where my truck sat and stood and watched me get in. Talk about being scared!!

Question is, what would a bear be doing out of hibernation this time of year? And, why would he be acting this way? I have had numerous close bear encounters before, but nothing like this.

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I've heard that if a bear dosn't get enough to eat before going into hibrination that they will come out and forage for food. It could be that the warm weather had him out looking for a mid- winter snack.<img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle>

God Bless & Good Hunting
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You probably smelled good to him...what did you cook for breakfast?

The Mouse

I'm no Gary Alt(inside PA joke)......but I believe Outdoorsman260 is correct, only pregnant females hibernate.

I had one follow me on an old abandonded road thru one of my favorite bowhunting spots about 14 years ago......stayed just inside the tree line and kept &quot;Woofing&quot; at me......followed my butt about a mile, IN THE DARK!!<img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>
I was afraid to run.....but I was pretty sure my trusty Bear &quot;Whitetail Hunter&quot; would have protected me.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Edited by - Matt / PA on 02/04/2002 22:06:13

HaHa, all I had on me was a pair of binoculars. He probably knew that. Thats why he never bothered me during season!

Are you sure it wasnt a sasquatch????

isnt it like 70 degrees over there? If there is food and the weather stays decent they can and sometimes do stay out longer...even up here!

I saw on one of the wildlife shows that when a bear hibernates It doesn't sleep the whole time. It will get up and walk around on occasion, however it will be slow to respond.

It also will stay very close to it's den.
It could have been awake and heard you, so it came it to see what you were, and to make sure you stayed away from it's den.